Construction Management, M.S.

Construction Management, M.S. Program

Department Information

The School of Engineering offers undergraduate degrees in Industrial Engineering Computer Engineering and Construction Management, and graduate degrees in Engineering Management and Construction Management. Certificates in Quality, Project Management, Construction Planning and Control and Construction Administration are also offered. The School serves a diverse regional and international student population, and utilizes modern tools and laboratories for active learning and student engagement while emphasizing collaborative learning.

Program Description

The School of Engineering is offering a Master’s of Science degree in Construction Management. This degree is targeted for working professionals who are in leadership/management positions in the construction industry or planning to advance their careers to manage large construction projects.

The goals of the Masters of Science degree in Construction Management are to prepare effective managers for large public and private construction projects, to prepare the workforce required for the state’s transportation infrastructure improvements, and to enable current and future engineers and other professionals to assume leadership roles in the construction industry.

This program is different from other construction management programs as it is based on a well-balanced curriculum covering various aspects of the construction management profession. Special attention is given to working professionals with classes offered at times convenient for the students. Students will take required courses in legal and environmental issues in construction, advanced technology, project planning and control, cost estimating, financial and risk management issues. Also issues in construction safety and current trends in construction industry will be discussed. Students will also have a broad choice of electives from courses in construction management, engineering, business, or other graduate courses with department approval.

Career Opportunities

With the expected increase in large construction work, in part stemming from the increase in public spending on California’s transportation infrastructure improvement, there is considerable demand for individuals who can technically and scientifically manage large construction projects. Also, there are increasing opportunities from the local and regional high tech sector for expansion and new construction projects. The construction industry, as a whole, is one of the largest industries in the nation with a great need for skilled project managers. Sample jobs are construction manager, site manager and others.

Admission Requirements

The M.S. in Construction Management is open to individuals planning a career or advancing their career in the construction industry, and who have:

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited university with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (4.0 basis) in their undergraduate work,

Relevant work or academic experience, and

College Algebra and Trigonometry or equivalent level math courses.

In addition to the University Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Application, all applicants should submit to the department:

Personal statement explaining their reasons for wanting to pursue the M.S. in Construction Management degree,

A resume detailing their professional and academic achievements, and

Two letters of recommendation.

Admission to the University and admission to the M.S. in Construction Management degree program are separate steps.

For international students, check with CSUEB Center for International Education (CIE) for further requirements. In addition, proficiency in English language is required for all students to whom English is not their native language.

Student Standing and Progress Toward the Degree

There are three categories of student status which reflect student progress toward the degree: “Conditionally Classified Graduate” student, “Classified Graduate” student, and “Advancement to Candidacy” student.

Students achieve “Conditionally Classified Graduate” status when they have been admitted to the M.S. in Construction Management degree program, but have not yet completed the prerequisites for “Classified Graduate” status in the M.S. in Construction Management.

Students achieve “Classified Graduate” status when they have satisfied the University Writing Skills Requirement and completed all program prerequisites. For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see the Testing Office website at www.csueastbay.edu/testing or call (510) 885-3661.

Students are advanced to Candidacy when they have completed the required courses with a 3.0 or better GPA.

Note: Students who fail to maintain progress by falling below a 3.0 GPA in their graduate courses for two or more consecutive semesters will be academically disqualified from the university.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a M.S. Construction Management degree from Cal State East Bay will be able to:

understand and implement risk management, scheduling and estimating, building information modeling, high performance building assessment systems, and project delivery methods.

plan and deliver a project meeting the desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, constructability, and sustainability.

Degree Requirements

The M.S. degree program in Construction Management requires completion of 36 semester units distributed among required courses, elective courses, and the project or comprehensive exam. Of these units, at least 27 units must be completed in residence (transfer units are limited to 9 semester units); at least 30 units must be in courses in the 600 series. No course numbered 100 to 299 (or equivalent if taken elsewhere) may be used as part of the 36-unit graduate degree program.

No more than 3 units of Independent Study (CMGT 690) may be counted toward the 36 units required for the degree. Project credit may not exceed 3 units.

A grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained in all 36-semester units taken to satisfy the degree requirements. All graduate degree requirements must be completed within five (5) years.

Elective Courses

Students completing the capstone must take 6 elective units. Those who elect to take the comprehensive exam need to take an additional third elective (a total of 9 elective units) with the comprehensive exam to satisfy the graduation requirement.

Electives can be chosen from other graduate programs with departmental approval.

Capstone Requirement

To complete a capstone project requirement, students enroll in one (1) of the capstone courses below for 3 units or pass a comprehensive exam. Students who elect to take the comprehensive exam cannot take CMGT 693A or CMGT 693B, but have to complete an additional 3 unit elective.

The Applied Research in Construction Management, CMGT 693A, is a capstone course based on the coursework completed for the degree and is accompanied by a written document. The Master’s Project Capstone, CMGT 693B, is an individual research project where a faculty member from the department supervises the student’s work. One copy of the written component of the project is required by the department.

For comprehensive exam and other information, see your graduate advisor.

Grades of “RP” (Report in Progress) may be given for CMGT 693A or CMGT 693B if the project is not completed at the end of the semester. The “RP” grade must be removed within one year or it will become an “F.

Other Graduate & Post-Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the University requirements for graduation as described throughout this catalog. These include the 70% unit residence requirement; the five-year rule on currency of subject matter; the minimum number of units in 600-level courses; the “C” minimum grade for each graduate course; the 3.00 cumulative grade point average; and the University Writing Skills Requirement.

Note: For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see the Testing Office website at www.csueastbay.edu/testing or call (510) 885-3661.